Many models of CANON and EPSON Printers can be used with our Edible Inks. We currently recommend that you click on the link below, to see our most current Cross Reference of our edible inks and compatible printers.

This list changes from time to time, so it is a good idea to check this before purchasing you ink tanks.

According to the CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF) certification programs contain the only related standards accredited by ANSI. Also according to the CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, There are currently no standards, NSF or otherwise, that govern the use of an ink jet printer in food preparation. Therefore, as stated in the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law, the approval for the use of an ink jet printer for food preparation remains at no higher than the county level in California and possibly at the state level in other areas.

Based on this information there is no national or international level sanitation standards or certification currently available for an ink jet printer.

Please keep in mind the following points: All frosting and ink ingredients are FDA approved, all materials that come in contact with the edible portion of the product, backing paper, ink cartridges, cartridge filling and printer rollers, are FDA approved.

Yes. If you use a USB Printer and scanner you can print edible images on the macintosh. However you must provide your own macintosh compatible photo editing software.

7. Why is my system running so slowly?

Regardless of a computer's processor speed, if the RAM on the computer is full, the processing time will slow down considerably. The saturation of the available RAM is normally caused by a very large image created when too high a resolution is used when scanning. The higher the resolution, the larger your image file will be. For instance, an 8.5" x 11" color photograph scanned at 75 dpi takes up about 1.6 megabytes (MB). Doubling resolution to 150 dpi will increase the file size four times - to approximately 6.3 MB. Going to 300 dpi will increase file size to 26.2 MB!

What you need to do then is to select the lowest possible resolution that still gives you good image quality in order to keep file size manageable. Our recommendation is not to go any higher than 200 dpi unless you specifically require the resolution and are knowledgeable in image processing.

Scanner Questions - Kopyjet

1. What scanners will work with the Kopyjet system?

Any scanner that can digitally scan an image and transmit that image to the graphics software program can be used with the Kopyjet system. Keep in mind also that any digital image, from a digital camera, e-mail, etc., can be used.

2. What DPI should I use?

150dpi works pretty well. The larger the DPI the more RAM you'll need to edit your image

Printer and Print head Questions General

1. Why do my images have lines running through them?

Print head malfunctions are usually manifested in what we refer to as "banding". Banding is the presence of lines running left and right across the printed page. Normally the lines are approximately 1/8th" wide and may be white or some color other than the intended.

The banding is a result of the edible ink drying in the print head and restricting the flow of ink to the image. To eliminate the banding, the print head should be cleaned.

2. How do I clean the Canon print head?

It is almost inevitable that at some point your print head will become blocked and you will experience printing difficulties.

4. From the print out, determine which ink is not coming through. The print should show a table of black (a checkbox of black line), 2 stripes of cyan, 2 of Magenta and 1 of Yellow. Whichever isn't showing a solid line identifies the inkjet that is blocked. If all colors are showing strong solid lines then your problem is fixed. If not, perform another deep clean and another nozzle check. If still no improvement; move on to the next point.

5.Remove the inks and tap them firmly on a piece of white paper towel . You are looking to see if ink comes out of the cartridges or not. If not, then the cartridges could be at fault; but if ink is showing on the paper then we need to turn our attention to the print head.

6. Steam Jet Clean the print head . Remove your inks and print head. Using our Steam Jet Cleaner (preferably over a trash can to catch the mess!) position the Steam Jet Cleaner nozzle over the inkjet heads (the circles that the cartridge sponges sit over) and pull the trigger for 1-2 seconds. Steam will jet through the inkjet clearing out stubborn clogs. Of course, colored steam / hot water will fly out the underneath of the print head so be sure not to get in its way. Repeat this process for all inkjets in the print head. Place your cartridges back into the print head.

7.Kleaning Kartridges. You could also try removing your inks and replace them with our Kleaning Kartridges. Perform a deep clean operation. Then put your edible inks back in the print head and perform a regular cleaning operation.

8. Perform a Nozzle Check. What does the pattern look like now? If it isn't showing strong solid lines of color then we need to try something else. Remove your ink, and remove your print head. Sit the print head in a shallow bowl (1/2") of airbrush cleaning fluid, warm distilled, or deionized water.. Place the tip of a syringe (such as that found in our Syringe Cleaning Kit) over the inkjet heads (the circles that the cartridge sponges sit over) and pull the plunger to suck the cleaning fluid up through the print head. This will clear a clog. Once you've done this, replace the inks and try a Nozzle Check. How is it now?

9. If your Nozzle Check is still not showing solid lines of color then you need to repeat one, or all of the above steps until it does.

If when you tapped the cartridges on the white paper towel color did not come out of them, you need to remove the airlock that is likely to be causing the problem. Sometimes turning the inks upside down will do it (try it then put them in the printer and perform a Nozzle Check to find out).

Sometimes you'll need to pierce a small hole in the middle of the cartridge top (on the sponge side of the tank) with a pin or tack.

Then put them back into the print head and try the Nozzle Check again.

It is entirely possible that the clog is very stubborn and will need numerous deep

cleans / steam jets / Kleaning Kartridge uses to clear.

Frosting Sheets

1. What size Frosting Sheets are available and what are the dimensions of each?

1 year. Be sure to keep the Frosting Sheets in their Zip Lock air tight bag, otherwise they will dry out and become brittle and unusable.

3. Will the frosting Sheets melt into frosting that has set for a day or more?

If the frosting on the cake appears dry or crusty, apply a fine mist of water onto the cake top before applying the Frosting Sheet. This can be achieved with an airbrush or small misting bottle.

4. With what types and brands of frosting do Kopykake Frosting Sheets work best?

Fresh Buttercream or Non-Dairy topping, Fondant, Marzipan, even Ice Cream are the best. It is recommeded that you do not put the Frosting Sheets directly on a high moisture base, such as whipped creams. You may fill cakes with whipped cream, but use a thin layer of buttercream under the actual Frosting Sheet You may use hard frostings, such as Royal Icing, Marzipan, etc., but you should also put a very thin coating of a buttercream, piping jelly, or at least a fine mist water spray so the the Frosting sheet will adhere to the surface.

5. What do I do if the Frosting Sheets will not come off the backing sheet or appear to be dry and brittle?

Yes. Return the printed Frosting Sheet, once printed and place it back in a zip-lock bag. You may choose to dry the image before or after storage. Be sure to keep the image out of any direct light to prevent color deterioration.

7. Why do bubbles appear on the frosting sheet when it has sat overnight?

In most of the cases, the bubbles are caused by moisture coming up from below the Frosting Sheet. The best preventative measures are to use the recommended frosting and store the image covered in a cool dry place.

8. Why do cracks appear on the image?

If the cake is allowed to flex during transportation, wrinkles or cracks may appear depending in whether the image was compressed or stretched. Using a double board, especially on the half sheet cakes, will help eliminate this problem.

Yes. We currently have a Kolor Kartridge Refill Kit available to refill your Kolor Kartridges. The Refill Kit is item number #RFK02. However, we do not recommend multiple refills of your cartridges as doing so can increase the likelihood of printing problems being experienced.

5. What do I do if my Inks drool / leak?

It is unlikely but sometimes the ink cartridges may drool when first opened, or leak if correctly placed into the print head.

If your inks drool, hold the cartridge at a 45 degree angle to prevent further spillage and gently wipe the excess ink with a paper towel.

Software - Ulead Photo Express

1. Where are the instructions for the Ulead Photo Express program

The Kopyjet CD contains an interactive tutorial on all the steps necessary to get you printing your first picture perfect party cake.

2. Do I have to use Ulead iPhoto Express?

No. This program was selected for its ease of use. There are many other more powerful programs that may be used. Any software program that can import a digital image and send that image to the printer may be used.

We recommend that you download our new FREE easy-to-use Desktop Decorator software for you to try out as well. This can be downloaded from our website. It has all our frosting sheet templates built in. Althought slightly less powerful than Ulead iPhoto Express, it is also easy to use and intuitive.